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Funding gap filled for Bob Jones Trail extension

March 6, 2025

By KAREN VELIE

The San Luis Obispo Council of Government’s (SLOCOG) voted Wednesday to fill a $7.8 million funding gap for the Bob Jones Trail Extension project after losing a grant from Caltrans.

SLOCOG staff had applied for the Caltrans grant under the false assertion they had secured all rights-of-way for the project. After reviewing the grant, Caltrans said it did not meet eligibility criteria.

The Bob Jones Trail extension is estimated to cost approximately $44 million.

On Wednesday, the SLOCOG Board of Directors voted 9-0 to allocate $7.8 million for the extension that will connect San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach. SLO County Supervisor John Peschong recused himself.

 


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As a bicyclist, I always just use the road. Otherwise, you have to call out “To your left” or ring your bell to warn pedestrians you’re coming on these bike trails ,if they even care to. I mean c’mon..WALK! Mothers are pushing babies in baby strollers, using both lanes.


2

How in the world in this time of massive budget deficits can anybody justify spending 44 million dollars on what is basically a walking trail.

Who’s pockets are getting lined?


47

Debbie Arnold cost the taxpayers this 7.8 million dollars because she sided with a stubborn out of state land barron who wouldn’t ease 0.18 acres of useless land for ten times any sane price. She alone discredited our community in the eyes of the State; it amounts to an abdication of responsibility that we all now have to pay for. Glad she’s out.


-38

Ray Bunnell is not “out of state”, I was working for his local company 30 years ago. Their offices are still in the same SLO building. He enjoys his beautiful parcel along the creek and does not want to see it occupied and fouled by inevitable homeless encampments.


22

It’s about private property rights. Perhaps the owner doesn’t want the trail near his property for some reason. Could it be drug deals, homeless camps, etc that caused him to have concerns? Possibly, but in any case, it would have gone to court and the County would have lost. That being said, even if $8 million were knocked off of the $44 million cost we should not be spending that money.


21

Here is where you are totally wrong…no, we don’t HAVE to pay more for the trail, in fact we don’t HAVE to pay anything for the trail at all…so, there’s that…


6

This county has more money than brains. $44 million for a bike trail? You would think we would have better things to spend that kind of money on.


53